National (US) Poll * February 22, 2007 * U.S. Should Provide Health Car - Quinnipiac University

Home> Institutes and Centers> Quinnipiac University Polling Institute> National (US)> Release Detail

February 22, 2007 - U.S. Should Provide Health Care/Insurance For All, American Voters Tell Quinnipiac University Poll; Most Would Pay Higher Taxes For Health Care

By a 64 - 31 percent margin, American voters say, "It's the government's responsibility to make sure everyone in the United States has adequate health care," according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today.
Democrats support this position 81 - 15 percent, as do independent voters, 67 - 28 percent, but Republicans oppose it 55 - 41 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN- uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.
American voters also say, 53 - 42 percent, that they would be willing to pay more in federal taxes to provide health care to all Americans. Democrats back higher taxes 70 - 26 percent, along with independent voters, 56 - 39 percent. Republicans oppose paying higher taxes for health care 63 - 32 percent.
"Two-to-one, Americans say that adequate health care - for everyone - is Washington's responsibility," said Maurice Carroll, Director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"Paying for it? That's always the rub and it's true on the health-care issue, where support drops from 2 - 1 to a slim majority."
Health care in the U.S. is "excellent" or "good," 44 percent of American voters say, while 55 percent say it is "not so good" or "poor."
But 64 percent of voters say health care in their community is "excellent" or "good," while 34 percent say "not so good" or "poor."
In an open-ended question, where voters can give any answer, 36 percent of American voters list the war in Iraq as the most important problem facing the nation, followed by 9 percent who list the economy and 7 percent each for health care and foreign policy in general.
By a 54 - 40 percent margin, American voters say it's the government's responsibility to make sure everyone in the U.S. has health insurance.
Only 6 percent of voters have heard or read "a lot" about president George W. Bush's proposal to help people get health insurance through tax incentives, but 62 percent have heard or read "some" or "a little" about the proposal.
Of those who have read or heard "a lot," "some" or "a little" about the President's health insurance plan, 40 percent support it, while 41 percent oppose it. Of this group, only 12 percent say the plan goes far enough, while 68 percent say more needs to be done.
"Americans don't know a lot about President Bush's health insurance proposal, but those who are familiar with what the President called for (and which Democrats promptly condemned) are split on whether to support it," Carroll said.
"The big criticism: The President's plans don't go far enough."
From February 13 - 19 Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,536 American voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percent.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and nationwide as a public service and for research. For more data - www.quinnipiac.edu and click on Institutes and Centers, or call (203) 582-5201.
24. Generally speaking, would you say things in this country are heading in the right direction, or are they off on the wrong track?
Wht Evan Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom BrnAgain Right direction 26% 50% 9% 29% 32% 21% 34% Wrong track 68 41 87 66 62 73 60 DK/NA 6 9 3 5 5 7 6 Red Blue Purple Right direction 29% 24% 25% Wrong track 66 69 68 DK/NA 5 6 7
25. What do you think is the most important problem facing the country today?
Tot War (Iraq) 36% Economy Total 9% Economy general 3 Unemployment/jobs 3 Cost of living 1 Business leaving/ Outsourcing 2 Foreign Affairs Total 7% Foreign affairs/ policy general 3 Priorities s/b at home, not abroad 2 Middle East 1 Foreign/affairs/ policy other 1 Healthcare/Costs/ Ins/HMO's 7% Politicians Total 6% Politicians/ Campaigns general 1 Political corruption 1 Bush administration 4 Terrorism Total 6% Terrorism general 4 Security/Safety 2 Immigration 5% Ethics/Values/ Morality Total 4% Lack of ethics/ Morality 2 Family breakdown/ Family values 1 Lack of religion 1 Budget Total 2% Budget deficits 1 Budget priorities 1 Education general 2% Poverty/Homeless 2% Crime general 1 Energy general 1 Environment/Pollution 1 Taxes general 1 Welfare 1 Other 7 DK/NA 1
TREND: What do you think is the most important problem facing the country today?
Feb 22 Nov 22 Jun 1 Mar 2 Dec 6 2007 2006 2006 2006 2005 Economy Total 9% 8% 12% 13% 16% Economy general 3 5 7 6 7 Unemployment/jobs 3 2 3 5 5 Minimum wage too low - - - - 1 Cost of living 1 - 1 1 1 Businesses leaving/Outsourcing 2 1 1 1 2 Education Total 2% 2% 4% 2% 2% Education general 2 1 3 2 1 Funding education - 1 1 - 1 Energy costs Total 1% 2% 8% 5% 3% Energy costs general 1 1 3 2 1 Gas prices - 1 4 1 1 Oil prices - - 1 2 1 Ethics/Values/Morality Total 4% 5% 4% 5% 5% Lack of ethics/Morality 2 3 2 3 2 Family breakdown/Family values 1 1 1 1 1 Lack of religion 1 1 1 1 2 Foreign affairs/policy Total 7% 6% 3% 3% 2% Foreign affairs/policy general 3 4 2 2 1 Priorities s/b at home, not abroad 2 1 1 1 1 Middle East 1 1 - - - Foreign/affairs/policy other 1 - - - - Healthcare Total 7% 5% 5% 6% 3% Healthcare/Costs/Insurance/HMO's 7 5 5 5 3 Medicare - - - 1 - Immigration 5% 6% 11% 3% 4% Politicians/Campaigns Total 6% 6% 5% 8% 5% Politicians/Campaigns general 1 2 1 1 1 Political corruption 1 1 1 1 1 Bush administration 4 3 3 5 3 Terrorism/Security Total 6% 8% 6% 11% 7% Terrorism general 4 5 4 7 5 Security/Safety 2 3 2 4 2 War (Iraq) 36% 31% 16% 23% 31% Other 7 6 8 6 9 DK/NA 1 2 3 4 3
26. Which political party do you think can do a better job of handling that problem - the Republican Party or the Democratic Party?
Wht Evan Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom BrnAgain Republican 31% 73% 5% 26% 36% 27% 47% Democratic 45 7 82 38 37 52 30 NO DIFFERENCE(VOL) 14 13 9 20 18 11 14 DK/NA 10 7 5 16 10 11 9 Red Blue Purple Republican 36% 28% 30% Democratic 40 48 47 NO DIFFERENCE(VOL) 12 13 17 DK/NA 12 11 7
30. In general how would you rate the quality of health care in the United States today? Excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
Wht Evan Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom BrnAgain Excellent 11% 19% 4% 11% 17% 6% 14% Good 33 44 23 35 36 30 34 Not so good 30 22 37 28 23 35 26 Poor 25 14 34 25 22 28 25 DK/NA 2 1 2 1 3 1 - Red Blue Purple Excellent 10% 10% 12% Good 34 32 32 Not so good 28 34 28 Poor 27 22 26 DK/NA 1 1 2
31. In general how would you rate the quality of health care in your community? Excellent, good, not so good, or poor?
Wht Evan Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom BrnAgain Excellent 20% 31% 12% 21% 25% 16% 23% Good 44 48 41 43 47 41 41 Not so good 20 12 27 18 14 26 20 Poor 14 9 18 14 12 15 15 DK/NA 2 - 2 3 2 2 1 Red Blue Purple Excellent 18% 22% 20% Good 43 43 46 Not so good 20 23 19 Poor 18 10 14 DK/NA 2 3 1
32. Do you think it's the government's responsibility to make sure that everyone in the United States has adequate health-care, or don't you think so?
Wht Evan Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom BrnAgain Yes 64% 41% 81% 67% 60% 68% 55% No 31 55 15 28 38 26 39 DK/NA 4 4 3 5 2 6 6 Red Blue Purple Yes 64% 67% 62% No 31 28 35 DK/NA 5 4 3
33. Are you willing to pay more in federal taxes to provide health care to all Americans?
Wht Evan Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom BrnAgain Yes 53% 32% 70% 56% 49% 57% 45% No 42 63 26 39 47 38 51 DK/NA 4 5 4 4 3 5 4 Red Blue Purple Yes 53% 53% 54% No 43 42 42 DK/NA 4 5 4
34. President Bush has suggested a plan to help more people get health insurance through tax incentives. How much have you heard or read about his proposal - a lot,some, only a little or nothing at all.
Wht Evan Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom BrnAgain A lot 6% 6% 6% 8% 8% 5% 5% Some 19 20 20 20 21 18 18 Only a little 43 45 44 37 43 42 44 Nothing at all 31 29 30 35 27 34 33 DK/NA - - 1 - 1 - - Red Blue Purple A lot 8% 5% 6% Some 22 17 20 Only a little 39 44 46 Nothing at all 32 34 27 DK/NA - 1 1
35. (If heard or read q34) In general do you support or oppose President Bush's plan to increase health insurance coverage through tax incentives?
HEARD OR READ Q34....................................... Wht Evan Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom BrnAgain Support 40% 54% 31% 39% 42% 39% 48% Oppose 41 26 51 43 40 41 32 DK/NA 19 20 18 18 18 20 21 Red Blue Purple Support 41% 40% 40% Oppose 39 43 41 DK/NA 20 17 20
36. (If heard or read q34) Do you think this plan goes far enough in helping uninsured Americans get health insurance or do you think more needs to be done?
HEARD OR READ Q34....................................... Wht Evan Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom BrnAgain Plan goes far enough 12% 21% 5% 15% 14% 10% 19% More needs to be done 68 52 81 66 66 71 58 DK/NA 19 28 14 19 20 19 23 Red Blue Purple Plan goes far enough 12% 11% 14% More needs to be done 68 71 65 DK/NA 20 18 20
37. Do you think it's the government's responsibility to make sure that everyone in the United States has health insurance, or don't you think so?
Wht Evan Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom BrnAgain Yes 54% 32% 69% 55% 49% 58% 43% No 40 64 22 40 47 34 51 DK/NA 6 5 9 5 4 8 6 Red Blue Purple Yes 50% 57% 54% No 44 35 41 DK/NA 6 8 5